Yellow Daisies Redux My House in August Radiant yellow daisies dominate my August gardens. The wanton, golden Showy Black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia speciosa var. sullivantii), the color of marigolds, is everywhere, anywhere its seeds have found a bit of bare dirt in which to sprout. Every year I think I have way too many Showy Black-eyed […]

The Snow-Storm Announced by all the trumpets of the sky, Arrives the snow, and, driving o’er the fields, Seems nowhere to alight: the whited air Hides hills and woods, the river, and the heaven, And veils the farm-house at the garden’s end. The sled and traveller stopped, the courier’s feet Delayed, all friends shut out, […]

My traditional gardening friends complain that they have no flowers in bloom in August. They obviously don’t grow Black-eyed Susan. (Rudbeckia speciosa var. sullivantii) View out my front door. This week a Great Spangled Fritillary landed on my front porch stair post–alas, I didn’t get a photo. Great Spangled Fritillary are […]

Drought? What drought? Part 2 July 26, 2012 If ever there was a summer to convince people to plant prairie flowers and grasses instead of lawns and exotic flowers, this is it. I began to plant my prairie garden in 1998, starting with the front foundation, entry walk, and along the front walk, adding […]

The heart has its reasons which reason knows nothing of. Blaise Pascal Give all to love, Obey thy heart, Friends, kindred, days, Estate, good-fame, Plans, credit and the Muse,— Nothing refuse. Ralph Waldo Emerson Romantic Gardens The Romantic Period was an intellectual and artistic movement that originated in the late 18th century and stressed […]

THROUGH THE YEAR 2011 IN MY GARDEN JANUARY I neglected to take any pictures at my house last January, so I’m showing you a photograph of June’s stone stairway that I did take. Last year, in February, I featured the grass, stone, and snow of the Geneva Riverwalk, but if you have a […]